Read the city

Tokyo addresses follow a hierarchical grid: ku (ward) → chome (district) → ban (block) → go (building). The key insight is that buildings within a ban are numbered by construction date, not street position.

Take "Shibuya 2-15-1": 2 is the chome (a roughly rectangular district), 15 is the ban (a specific block within that district), and 1 is the go (the first building constructed on that block). To find it, locate chome 2, identify block 15, then look for building 1 within that block.

Utility poles display chome numbers, and neighborhood maps (machi-kuzu) at key intersections show the ban layout. With practice, you can navigate to any address without a phone.

Buddhist temple complexes use a standardized signage system that directs visitors through spaces in a prescribed sequence. The signs use specific directional characters paired with color-coded arrows.

Red arrows typically point toward the main hall (hondo) and central worship areas. Blue arrows indicate gardens or meditation spaces. White or gold arrows mark routes to sub-temples or auxiliary buildings. Understanding this color system allows you to navigate complex temple grounds intuitively.

The characters on these signs often use classical Buddhist terminology rather than modern Japanese. Learning even a few key terms \u2014 such as 参拝 (sanpai, worship), 庭園 (teien, garden), and 本堂 (hondo, main hall) \u2014 dramatically improves your ability to move through temple spaces with confidence.